426 ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 



and discharge it without any great burden to the 

 queen s coffers, for his own honour s sake. 



3. But if it were an embassy of weight, con 

 cerning affairs of state, choice was made of some sad 

 person of known judgment, wisdom, and experi 

 ence; and not of a young man not weighed in state 

 matters ; nor of a mere formal man, whatsoever his 

 title or outside were. 



4. Yet in company of such, some young towardly 

 noblemen or gentlemen were usually sent also, as 

 assistants or attendants, according to the quality of 

 the persons ; who might be thereby prepared and 

 fitted for the like employment, by this means, at 

 another turn. 



5. In their company were always sent some grave 

 and sad men, skilful in the civil laws, and some in 

 the languages, and some who had been formerly 

 conversant in the courts of those princes, and knew 

 their ways ; these were assistants in private, but not 

 trusted to manage the affairs in public ; that would 

 detract from the honour of the principal ambas 

 sador. 



6. If the negociation were about merchants af 

 fairs, then were the persons employed for the most 

 part doctors of the civil law, assisted with some other 

 discreet men ; and in such, the charge was ordinarily 

 defrayed by the company or society of merchants 

 whom the negociation concerned. 



7. If lieger ambassadors or agents were sent to 

 remain in or near the courts of those princes or 



